Rail-joint.



W. F. WIDMER.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3. 1914.

1,140,644. Patented May 25, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHDTOLITHO.. WASHINGTON D C WILLIAM F. WIDMER, 0FBRACKENBIDGE, IE'ENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Application fi1ed July 3, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1,,WILLIAM F. WrDMnR, acitizen of the United States, residing at Brackenridge, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Rail- Joints, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention has for its object the production of a rail joint whichwill be simple in construction, and by means of which the meeting endsof railway rails, and the like, may be securely united.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means which maybe substituted for the rail joints now in general use, wherebyseparation of the rails is prevented, and which may be readily appliedto the rails, orremoved therefrom, as oocasion may require.

A. further object is to produce a rail joint in which the securing boltsare entirely con cealed and protected from atmospheric influences, sothat corroding of theparts is in a great measure obviated.

A further object is to provide improved means for preventing looseningof the nuts and bolts after once placed in position, and yet permit oftheir ready separation and removal when occasion requires, withoutdestroying any of the parts.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a side view illustrating myimproved rail joint. Fig. 2 is a similar view from the opposite side.Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.1 with the cover plate removed. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view ofthe bolt and nut. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a portion of the coverplate.

Referring to the drawing, 10, 10 represents the ends of themeeting'rails to be united, said rails being provided with the usualbolt openings in their webs. Two fish plates 11 and 12. respectively areemployed, the top and bottom edges of the fish plates being inclined tofit between the tread and the flange of the rail, longitudinal bearingribs 13 being provided on the inner face of each fish plate, to bearagainst the web of the rail. The fish plate 11 is provided withelongated openings 14 which coincide with correspondingly shapedrecesses 15 in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Serial No. 848,810.

the outer face of the plate, said recesses being larger than theopenings 14: so as to provide shoulders 16. The fish plate 12 isprovided with a series of chambers 17, corresponding in number to therecesses 15, said chambers being closed by a cover plate 18 which fitsbetween flanges 19 formed in the outer face of the fish plate. The rearwall of the fish plate 12 is provided with openings 20 coinciding withthe openings 14 in the fish plate 11.

The fish plates and the rails are united by means of bolts 21 and nuts22, said bolts being provided with heads having flanges which bearagainst the inner walls of the chambers 17. The nuts are of cap-likeform provided with elongated heads each having a sleeve like extensionwhich is internally threaded to engage the threaded portion of the bolt.The heads of the nuts are pro vided with recesses in alinement with thebores of said sleeves, said recesses being threaded in continuation ofthe threads of the sleeves. The threaded recesses do not extend entirelythrough the nuts, an end wall being provided to protect the end of thebolt. In assembling the parts, the nuts 22 are inserted through the fishplate 11, the sleeve-like extensions projecting into the openings 14,the elongated heads entering the recesses 15 and bearing against theshoulders 16. The bolts are introduced through the chambers 17 ofthelfish plate 12, being passed through the openings 20 in said fishplate, and through the openings in the rail until they engage thethreads of the nuts. By means of a proper wrench the bolts may now berotated so as to clamp the fish plates and the rails between the headsof the bolts and the heads of the nuts. In this manner the ends of thesleeve-like portions of the nuts bring up against the web of the railand the heads of the nuts against the shoulders 16. It will be notedthat openings 14 and 20 are elongated to permit of expansion andcontraction of the rails without destroying the clamping action of thefish plates and their adjuncts.

In assembling the parts the bolts are screwed as tightly as possible,and preferably brought with the squared portions of their heads inalinement with the flanges 19. The cover plate 18 is then placed inposition. This cover plate is provided with a plurality of sockets 25,one for each bolt, and when the cover plate is in position these socketsfit over the heads of the bolts and prevent rotation of thelatter. Thecover plate may be secured in positionin" any suitable manner. I prefer,however, to provide threaded lugs 26 projecting from the fish plate 12,which lugs pass throughsuitable openings in'the cover plate, and areengaged by nuts 27, which retain the cover plate in position.

From the foregoing, it will'be understood that my improved rail oint maybe readily substituted for any of the well known forms now in generaluse, without requiring any change in the rails. It Will'also be observedthat the sleeve like portions of the nuts fit entirely over and inclosethe threaded portions-of thebolts, thus protecting the latter fromtheatmosphere, and the heads of the bolts are-correspondingly protectedb'ythe chambers 17 and cover plate 18 Furthermore, it will be noted thatthe nuts cannot turn in' the recesses 15, and the bolts'cannot turnwhenonce engaged by theso'ckets of the cover plate. Thus it is impossiblefor the nuts and bolts to work loose under the vibrations usuallyencountered. When, however, it is desired to remove the fish plates, itis only necessary to first remove the: cover plate-18 and expose theheads of the bolts, whereupon the lattermay be readilyunscrewed withoutdifficulty and without'injury to the parts. If desired'the fish platesmay be provided with recesses 30 to receive the heads of the spikes forthe rails. Having thus explained the nature of my invention anddescribed an operative man ner of'constructing and using the same,although without attempting to setforth all of the form'sin whichit maybe made, or all of the forms of its use, what I claim is 1. Animprovement in rail joints comprising a fish plate'having openingstherein and elongated recesses coinciding with said openings,asecondfish plate'also providedwith chambers corresponding tosaidrecesses,

4 bolts having headslocatedin and rotatable Within said" chambers, nutshaving elongated heads located in said recesses, said nuts havingthreaded portions engaging said bolts, and a'coverplate for saidchambers. 2. An improvement in rail'joints comprising a fish platehaving; openings therein and elongated recesses coinciding with saidopenings, a second fish plate alsoprovided with openings and coincidingchambers, b'olt's having heads located in and rotatable within saidchambers, nuts having reduced portions extending into the openings inthe first mentionedfish plate and engaging said bolts, saidnut'shaving'heads located within said recesses, and a cover plate for saidchambers.

8; An iinprovementin rail joints comprising a fish plate having openingstherein said openings being enlarged to form recesses and shoulders, asecond fish plate also provided with openings and coinciding chambers,headed nuts located insa'id recesses and provided with reduced portionsextending into the coinciding openings, threaded bolts engaging. saidextensions and havlng heads located in and rotatable within saidchambers, and acover plate for said chambers,

4. An improvement in rail joints comprising two fish plates providedwith bolt openings, bolts passedthrough-said openings and having headsbearing'against one of saidfish plates, the other fish platebeingprovided with recesses, an'dnuts having heads fitting within saidrecesses and provided with extensions inclosing the threaded portions ofsaid bolts, said nuts having closed outer Walls to protect thethreadsof' the bolt from the atmosphere.

5. An improvement in rail joints comprising two fish plates providedwith'bolt openings, bolts passed through'saidopenings and having'head'sbearing against one ot-said fish plates, the other'plate being providedI V ings, one of said fish'plates having: chambers corresponding. withsaid openings, bolts passed through said openings, nuts engaging saidbolts, the other fish plate being provided with meansforpreventingrotation V of said nuts, and a cover, plate for said chambers.a

7 5 An improvement' 1n railjoints comprisingtwo fish plates providedwith bolt openings, one of said fish plates having chamberscorresponding with said openings, bolts passed through said openings andhaving their heads located in said chambers,.nuts

engaging said'bolts, the other fish plate being provided with means forpreventing-rotation of said nuts, and a cover plate for said chambershaving sockets for. engaging the hea'ds'ofsaid bolts;

8. An, improvement in rail jointscomprising two fish plates provided"with bolt openings, bolts passedthrough said openings, nuts engagingsaid bolts, oneof said fish plates being provided with chambers toreceiveandpermit rotation ofthe heads of said bolts, means carried? bysaidfish plate: for; engaging the heads ofsaidbolts toprevent rotationthereof, andcmeans carried by the other fish platefor, preventingrotation of'the nuts.

9. An improvement in rail joints cornprising two fish plates providedwith bolt openings, bolts passed'through said openings, nuts engagingsaid bolts, one of the fish plates being provided with chambers to receive and permit rotation of the heads of the bolts, a cover platecarried by said fish plate for covering said chambers and provided Withmeans for engaging the bolt heads, and means carried by the other fishplate for preventing rotation of said nuts.

10. An improvement in rail joints comprising tWo fish plates providedWith bolt openings, bolts passed through said openings, one of the fishplates being provided With chambers and the other With recessescoinciding With said openings, the heads of the bolts being located inand rotatable Within said chambers, nuts having portions located in saidrecesses, and a cover plate for said chambers having means for engagingsaid bolts to prevent rotation thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Wi"- nesses.

WILLIAM F. WIDMER. Witnesses:

WM. S. Honens, CHAS. E. RIoRnAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe G'ommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

